Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 6
Chapter 326 — देवालयमाहात्म्यम्
The Glory of Temples
सर्ववाद्यमयी घण्टा तस्या वादनमर्थकृत् गोशकृन्मूत्रवल्मीकमृत्तिकाभस्मवारिभिः
sarvavādyamayī ghaṇṭā tasyā vādanamarthakṛt gośakṛnmūtravalmīkamṛttikābhasmavāribhiḥ
ਘੰਟੀ ਸਭ ਵਾਦਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਰ ਹੈ; ਇਸ ਦਾ ਵਾਜਾ ਅਭੀਸ਼ਟ ਕਰਮ ਸਿੱਧ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। (ਇਸ ਦੀ ਸ਼ੁੱਧੀ) ਗੋਬਰ, ਗੋਮੂਤਰ, ਵਲਮੀਕ ਦੀ ਮਿੱਟੀ, ਮਿੱਟੀ, ਭਸਮ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਨਾਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Ritual handling and purification of the bell and related puja implements using pañcagavya-like and earth/ash/water substances for apotropaic efficacy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ghantā-māhātmya and śuddhi-dravya for śānti-karma","lookup_keywords":["ghantā","sarva-vādya-mayī","śuddhi","gośakṛt","gomūtra-valmīka-mṛttikā-bhasma-jala"],"quick_summary":"The bell is treated as embodying all instruments; its ringing fulfills ritual intent. It is purified/empowered with cow-dung, cow-urine, anthill earth, clay, ash, and water."}
Concept: Śabda and śuddhi: sound (bell) and purity-substances together remove obstacles and stabilize ritual intention.
Application: Before pūjā/śānti rites, ritually cleanse the bell and implements; ring the bell to mark transitions (āvāhana, upacāra, visarjana) and to ward off inauspiciousness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shanti-karma (Ritual purification and apotropaic rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple bell being ritually cleansed: priest applies cow-dung/cow-urine mixture, then clay/anthill earth and ash, finally rinses with water; bell is rung to commence śānti rite.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest at temple threshold holding ghantā, assistants with small bowls labeled gośakṛt, gomūtra, valmīka-mṛttikā, mṛttikā, bhasma, jala; rhythmic composition, earthy pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, large golden bell with gold foil emphasis, priest performing śuddhi with ritual vessels, ornate temple pillars, rich reds and greens, embossed detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step instructional scene: cleansing substances arranged neatly, priest washing and then ringing bell, fine linework and soft shading, clear ritual sequencing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed metal bell and vessels, careful depiction of washing and ringing, architectural courtyard, attendants holding bowls of ash and clay, delicate palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गोशकृन्मूत्रवल्मीकमृत्तिकाभस्मवारिभिः is a concatenated list; resolved as गोशकृत् + मूत्र + वल्मीक + मृत्तिका + भस्म + वारिभिः (instrumental plural sense for the whole list).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi on upacāra and śuddhi of dravya; Agni Purana Shanti-karma sections on apotropaic rites
FAQs
It teaches ghantā-vidhi: the ritual function of the bell (as a comprehensive auspicious sound) and the prescribed śuddhi-dravyas—cow-dung, cow-urine, anthill earth, clay, ash, and water—for consecration/purification in worship.
It preserves a practical, itemized temple-ritual protocol (objects, actions, and purification substances), illustrating how the Agni Purana catalogs applied liturgy alongside many other sciences and disciplines.
Ringing the consecrated bell is presented as ritually efficacious (arthakṛt), while purification with traditional śuddhi substances removes impurity and supports auspiciousness (śuddhi and śānti) for the rite’s success.